Tag Archives: nourish

Day 3/31: Nourish

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Day 3: Nourish #writetogether31days

There’s no doubt that when I’m feeling depleted, empty, in need of contentment, being near water is the nourishment my soul desires. There’s a certain peace, a calm serenity I can’t explain (water people know what I mean) that comes over me the moment I am near it. Lake, ocean, pond, river, trickling stream, it doesn’t matter. When the world leaves me lacking, it is the water that replenishes.

Here’s the thing though, I’m not able to take off to the beach or lake whenever I feel like it. And as I’m sure you know, life can leave us longing for relief a lot! Looking to the mountains, desert, and yes, water to fulfill that hunger just doesn’t work day to day. So what do we do?

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.”
Psalm 23:1-3a (NIV)

Let’s read that again. (I’m a slow learner) With God, we have everything we need. In Him we find rest and solace. The green pastures and quiet waters aren’t really what our souls desire. It is HE who restores us. 

Think back to the Israelites. They escaped with very little and found themselves in a world of need. Depleted, empty, longing for relief, God sent bread from Heaven to nourish their bodies and to remind them they weren’t on their own . It is HE who restores us. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

God didn’t stop there.  He made sure that in our day to day, las we live in this world of trouble all our needs are met too. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ “
John 6:35 (NIV)

Going to linger at the water’s edge is something I always look forward to doing. And I do feel refreshed when I’m there, but you and I know that feeling doesn’t last long. It is Jesus, the Bread from Heaven who truly feeds our souls. HE provides all you and I need. Whether we’re on the mountain top or in the deep valley, on still waters or in the parched desert we must remember (speaking to myself here) that it isn’t a place, or a thing, or a person that meets our needs or nourishes our souls. It is only, always Jesus.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Nourish ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

Nourish

There are few things I love more than homemade bread and it just so happens that one of the many perks of having my Mother-in-Love as a neighbor, is receiving a loaf straight from the oven every week. 

Answering the door, the fresh bread wrapped tightly in a tea towel is graciously placed into my waiting, open hands. I don’t know about you, but that first yeasty, whiff just smells of home to me, and biting into a warm slice? Well, it’s nothing but pure comfort, one that satisfies my hunger, filling the empty feeling I have deep within. What appears to be a simple loaf of bread is actually an unselfish gift her of time, thoughtfulness, ability, and love offered just for me to enjoy.  I don’t ever want to take even a single crumb for granted!

“Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” John 6:48-51 (NLT)

The world would have us trying to fill up on things that only leave us feeling empty and wanting more, so what better way for Jesus to describe Himself than Bread? After all, He is a fragrant offering leading us to our eternal Home (Eph. 5:2), the One who’s abounding in comfort (2 Corinth.1:5), and who nourishes the deepest longings of our souls. Sound good? Let’s “taste and see!”

Jesus is knocking. Will I, will you, answer with open hands ready to receive the Bread of Life that’s so graciously waiting? He tells us that if we do, we will never be hungry again.(John 6:35) He meets our needs, fills our voids, quiets our cravings. Jesus IS the unselfish Gift of love. His body, the Bread, was broken and offered just for you and me.(Luke 22:19) 

“He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith!’” Matthew 15:26-28a (NLT)

Let’s not ever take even a single “crumb” for granted.